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Accident results in two fatalities -Joe Brady Millen News Editor A mid day wreck just days before Christmas has left the community in shock. At 12:37 p.rn., Wednesday, Dec. 22, 911 dispatch received a call of a traffic accident on Highway 17 North and South Herndon Road. According to Jenkins County Sheriff Robert Oglesby, “from the initial investigation it appears Mr. and Mrs. Bill and Sue Green pulled off of Herndon Road onto Highway 17 and into the path of the log truck.” Sheriff Oglesby continued, “the log truck, carrying a load, was unable to stop and struck the smaller pickup.” The vehicle driven by the Green’s was pinned under the log truck as the two autos traveled into a ravine and came to a rest at the edge of the tree line. The driver of the log truck, identified as Olin Cowart, Jr. of Gordon, Georgia was un harmed in the accident. Mr. Henry Young, Jenkins County Coroner explains, “upon arrival on the scene at 12:49 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. Bill and Sue Green were pronounced dead. The cause of death was apparent mul tiple blunt force injuries.” Both vic tims were 82 years old and lived in the Lane Road area. Funeral services were held yesterday at Elam Baptist Church, (photos by D Hearn) Redistricting begins as Census data comes in -Joe Brady Millen News Editor The 2020 Census data has begun trickling in and experts are digesting the ramifications of a dismal response, especially in mral Georgia counties such as Jenkins. Jenkins County as a whole had a decrease in popula tion in several districts of the county, resulting in district maps being redrawn, a task being undertaken by State and Local officials. District 1, primary school pre cinct, reports a 5.64% decrease in population, resulting in 1,438 residents reported as living in the district. District 2, Jenkins County courthouse precinct, reported a 8.60% increase in population, See CENSUS page 2 to view article and district map JCMC in partnership with AU Medical on telehealth program -Joe Brady Millen News Editor Big plans are in store for Jen kins County Medical Center starting in January 2022. JCMC will begin offering emergency telemedicine services for pa tients. The hospital has formed a partnership with AU Medical Center to form a FCC Covid-19 Telehealth Program. “Our goal at JCMC has always been to offer top notch health care in our region and this fund ing allows us to bring some additional medical expertise to treat our patients here,” Antoine Poythress, CEO of JCMC ex plains. “In addition to improving access, the telemedicine services will help our Emergency Depart ment stabilize our patients and streamline the transfer process for more critical patients, if necessary.” The program is designed to assist mral hospitals with equip ment and staff costs of tele heath medicine. The program is intended to reimburse healthcare providers for expenses tied to expanding connected health platforms during the Covid pan demic and to help underserved mral communities access healthcare through technol ogy- Dr. Kyle Gay, Chief of Medical Staff and ER Director at JCMC further See AU MEDICAL page 2 Rathbun and Scott reappointed to DDA Highway 17 scene of second accident -Joe Brady Millen News Editor Just miles away from the accident that resulted in two fatalities, Highway 17 was the scene of another accident, this time a single log track overturned. In the early morning hours of Monday, December 20, emergency crews were dis patched to High way 17 and Harris Road. The log track, driven by Glenn Smith of Mt. Ver non was traveling west on Highway 17 when Mr. Smith lost con trol. According to the Georgia State Patrol investigation, the track traveled 522 feet on the north shoulder of the roadway before overturning onto its right side. When questioned by deputies, Smith had no recollection of what happened. He was transported to the Jenkins County Medical Center with non lifethreatening injuries, (photo by T. Fries) -Joe Brady Millen News Editor City council member Robin Scott has been reappointed by unanimous vote to the Down town Development Authority. Steve Rathbun was also reap pointed. The DDA was created by the City of Millen in the 1980s to rehabilitate property in the downtown area and make it more appealing for businesses to open in the downtown area. “We have our Facade Grant that allows business owners to apply for a $500 grant to rehab the front of their buildings,” Mandy Underwood with the DDA explained. The group also recently purchased the for mer Army Surplus store on the corner of Gray Street and Cotton Avenue. A grant has been written to cover the costs of saving the land- See DDA page 6 The former army surplus building has been purchased by the DDA and a grant written to refurbish the property. “We are in the business to save buildings, not make a profit. The chief responsiblity of the DDA is to revital ize the downtown area,” explained Mandy Underwood. (Photo by S. Eades) Inside This Gardening with Tal 2 VAIVL Technology 2 From the Archives 3 In the Kitchen 3 Editor’s Desk 4 Pastor Brad 4 Church News 5 Obituaries 5 Ag News 6 Library News 6 Legals 8 I fflfcPPY NLW YEAR